As we predicted, the CW’s fall schedule includes 3 blocks of shows from top producers, while veteran One Tree Hillis being held for midseason in what will be the series’ final season. The 13 episode will air uninterrupted, leading into the series finale. There will be a Josh Schwartz/Stephanie Savage block on Monday, with new medical drama Hart of Dixie, which they are executive producing, launching behind their Gossip Girl. It will be a Kevin Williamson-themed Thursday night, with new teen witch drama The Secret Circle following hit The Vampire Diaries, and McG-produced Friday lineup, with Nikita taking over the 8 PM slot vacated by Smallville, leading into Supernatural. Somewhat surprising, Nikita, which did so-so in the protected 9 PM slot on Thursday behind Vampire Diaries, is now leading the night, while veteran Supernatural stays put at 9 PM. In a somewhat odd pairing, 90210 is moving from Monday to Tuesday to help launch the new Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring drama Ringer. This marks Gellar’s return to Tuesday where her cult hit Buffy the Vampire Slayer once aired. America’s Next Top Model will stay in the Wednesday 9 PM slot it recently moved to for its first all-star edition in the fall, while hot new reality prospect, H8R, as a new Wednesday 8 PM anchor. Here is the CW’s release:

May 19, 2011 (New York, New York) ─ The CW Network will unveil the schedule for its 2011-2012 season today at its annual upfront presentation for advertisers, affiliates and national media from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Electro hip-hop group LMFAO will stage a rousing flash mob dance and performed their hit song “Party Rock Anthem” to open the show. The announcement was made by Dawn Ostroff, President of Entertainment, and Mark Pedowitz, the new President of The CW. “We’re thrilled to present the most exciting primetime schedule The CW has ever had, comprised of shows that feature bold concepts, proven TV stars and up-and-coming, breakout talent,” said Ostroff. “In just five years, we’ve built an instantly recognizable brand that resonates with both viewers and advertisers and is known for being smartly provocative, culturally current, emotionally authentic and a leader in digital and social media. This upcoming season will continue to establish The CW as a premier destination for our viewers, especially women.”

“Our priority this season was adding more original programming this upcoming year, and we’ve done that with shows that will appeal to our core audience of women, while also bringing in new viewers,” said Pedowitz. “We’re being aggressive with smart, bold scheduling moves designed to improve key time periods and grow our audience.”

On Monday night, one of the most talked-about shows on television, GOSSIP GIRL, returns to the 8:00-9:00 p.m. timeslot, leading into the new drama HART OF DIXIE from 9:00-10:00 p.m. From the creators of GOSSIP GIRL and “The O.C.,” HART OF DIXIE stars Rachel Bilson as Doctor Zoe Hart, a sophisticated New York City woman who finds herself practicing medicine in a small Southern town.

90210 graduated from West Beverly High and moves over to Tuesday nights, 8:00-9:00 p.m. Following 90210, 9:00-10:00 p.m., is one of the most buzzed-about shows of the new season, RINGER, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, who stars as a woman on the run, who assumes her twin sister’s identity, only to discover that her sister’s life is just as complicated and dangerous as the one she’s trying to escape.

On Wednesday, new reality series H8R brings celebrities face-to-face with the people who love to hate them, with host Mario Lopez, 8:00-9:00 p.m. With its focus on celebrity culture, H8R gives a great lead-in to the first-ever All-Stars edition of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL from 9:00-10:00 p.m.

Thursday night will feature two shows from star producer Kevin Williamson and based on a series of books by author L.J. Smith. The CW’s top-rated show THE VAMPIRE DIARIES returns in the 8:00-9:00 p.m. timeslot, leading into new drama THE SECRET CIRCLE from 9:00-10:00 p.m. Britt Robertson stars as Cassie, an orphaned teenage girl who discovers the truth about her lineage – she’s a witch who holds the key to an ancient battle between good and evil.

Friday nights are action-packed, with the sexy and exciting NIKITA moving to 8:00-9:00 p.m. and the Winchester brothers of SUPERNATURAL returning in the 9:00-10:00 p.m. timeslot.

Fast-talking New Yorker and brand new doctor Zoe Hart has it all figured out – after graduating top of her class from medical school, she’ll follow in her father’s footsteps and become a cardio-thoracic surgeon. But when her dreams fall apart, Zoe decides to accept an offer from a stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, to work with him at his small practice in Bluebell, Alabama. Zoe arrives in this small Gulf Coast town only to find that Harley has passed away and left his half of the medical practice to her in his will. She quickly finds that Southern hospitality isn’t always so hospitable – the other doctor in town, Brick Breeland, is less than pleased to be sharing the practice with this young outsider, and his daughter, Lemon, is a Southern belle whose sweet disposition turns sour when she meets Zoe. Zoe’s only allies are the mayor, former football star Lavon Hayes, her bad-boy neighbor Wade Kinsella, and handsome lawyer George Tucker – who just happens to be Lemon’s fiancé. Zoe is out of her element and ready to pack her bags, but a surprise visit by her snobby New York mother leads to Zoe’s decision to stay in Bluebell for a while, discovering small-town life and a side of herself she hadn’t known was there. The series stars Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart, Jaime King as Lemon Breeland, Wilson Bethel as Wade Kinsella, Cress Williams as Lavon Hayes, McKaley Miller as Rose and Scott Porter as George Tucker. HART OF DIXIE is from Bonanza Productions Inc., in association with Fake Empire, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, with executive producers Leila Gerstein (“Gossip Girl,” “Eli Stone”), Josh Schwartz (“Gossip Girl,” “Chuck,” “The O.C.”), Stephanie Savage (“Gossip Girl,” “The O.C.”), Len Goldstein and Jason Ensler (“Gossip Girl,” “Chuck”). The pilot was directed by Jason Ensler.

“RINGER”

Sarah Michelle Gellar stars as a woman who, after witnessing a murder, goes on the run, hiding out by assuming the life of her wealthy identical twin sister – only to learn that her sister’s seemingly idyllic life is just as complicated and dangerous as the one she’s trying to leave behind. Bridget is six months sober and starting to turn her life around when she is the sole witness to a professional hit. Despite the assurances of her FBI protector, Agent Victor Machado, Bridget knows her life is on the line. She flees to New York, telling no one, not even her Narcotics Anonymous sponsor, Malcolm. In New York, Bridget reunites with her estranged twin, Siobhan. Wealthy, pampered and married to the strikingly handsome Andrew Martin, Siobhan lives what appears to be a fairy tale life – a life where no one knows that Bridget exists. The sisters seem to be mending their frayed relationship, until Siobhan disappears mysteriously, and Bridget makes the split decision to take on her sister’s identity. She discovers shocking secrets, not only about her sister and her marriage, but also about Siobhan’s best friend, Gemma, and Gemma’s husband, Henry. And when someone tries to kill Bridget in her sister’s penthouse, she realizes she is no safer as Siobhan than she is as herself. The series stars Sarah Michelle Gellar as Bridget and Siobhan, Kristoffer Polaha as Henry, Ioan Gruffudd as Andrew Martin, Nestor Carbonell as Agent Victor Machado and Tara Summers as Gemma. RINGER is produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television in association with ABC Television Studios and Brillstein Entertainment with executive producers Pam Veasey (“CSI, NY,” “The District”), Peter Traugott (“Samantha Who?”) and Emmy Award-winner Richard Shepard (“Ugly Betty”). The pilot was directed by Richard Shepard.

“H8R”

Celebrities go head-to-head with civilians who hate them to win their “haters” over. Hosted by Mario Lopez, H8R is from Horizon Alternative Television with executive producers Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey (“Extra”), Jeremy Spiegel (“Extra”) and Mario Lopez.

“THE SECRET CIRCLE”

Cassie Blake was a happy, normal teenage girl – until her mother Amelia dies in what appears to be a tragic accidental fire. Orphaned and deeply saddened, Cassie moves in with her warm and loving grandmother Jane in the beautiful small town of Chance Harbor, Washington – the town her mother left so many years before – where the residents seem to know more about Cassie than she does about herself. As Cassie gets to know her high school classmates, including sweet-natured Diana and her handsome boyfriend Adam, brooding loner Nick, mean-girl Faye and her sidekick Melissa, strange and frightening things begin to happen. When her new friends explain that they are all descended from powerful witches, and they’ve been waiting for Cassie to join them and complete a new generation of the Secret Circle, Cassie refuses to believe them – until Adam shows her how to unlock her incredible magical powers. But it’s not until Cassie discovers a message from her mother in an old leather-bound book of spells hidden in her mother’s childhood bedroom, that she understands her true and dangerous destiny. What Cassie and the others don’t yet know is that darker powers are at play, powers that might be linked to the adults in the town, including Diana’s father and Faye’s mother – and that Cassie’s mother’s death might not have been an accident. The series stars Britt Robertson as Cassie Blake, Thomas Dekker as Adam Conant, Gale Harold as Charles Meade, Phoebe Tonkin as Fay Chamberlain, Jessica Parker Kennedy as Melissa, Shelley Hennig as Diana Meade, Louis Hunter as Nick, Ashley Crow as Jane Blake and Natasha Henstridge as Dawn Chamberlain. Based upon the book series by L.J. Smith (author of “The Vampire Diaries” book series), THE SECRET CIRCLE is from Outerbanks Entertainment and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Kevin Williamson (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Scream,” “Dawson’s Creek”), Andrew Miller (“Imaginary Bitches”), Leslie Morgenstein (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl”) and Gina Girolamo. Elizabeth Craft (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Lie to Me”) & Sarah Fain (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Lie to Me”) were executive producers on the pilot which was directed by Liz Friedlander (“The Vampire Diaries,” “90210”).

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 P.M.“NIKITA”

In season one of this sexy and suspenseful series featuring international action star Maggie Q in the title role, the charming and deadly Nikita waged a war against Division, the agency that created her. Michael — the man who trained her, a man she trusted — was hunting her. But Nikita had an ace up her sleeve: Alex, a girl she trained to infiltrate this secret unit of the government. At the end of season one, Nikita and Alex’s relationship had been shattered, and Nikita and Michael’s relationship was restored. Now, Nikita and Michael are on the run with a hard drive containing the government’s darkest secrets and conspiracies. Together, they are going to right the wrongs that Division has committed over the years, one mission at a time. But leading the hunt for them this time is Alex…and she knows all of Nikita’s tricks. The series stars Maggie Q as Nikita, Lyndsy Fonseca as Alex, Shane West as Michael, Aaron Stanford as Birkhoff, with Melinda Clarke as Amanda and Xander Berkeley as Percy. NIKITA is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers Craig Silverstein (“Bones,” “K-Ville”), David Levinson (“The Commish”), Danny Cannon (“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Chuck”), McG (“Supernatural,” “Chuck,” “The O.C.,” “Charlie’s Angels”) and Peter Johnson (“Supernatural,” “Chuck”).

9:00-10:00 P.M.“SUPERNATURAL”

Returning for its seventh season, this haunting series follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers bound by tragedy and blood to the one thing that runs through both their veins − hunting monsters. This past season, Dean and Sam faced insurmountable obstacles: Sam returned from Hell without his soul, and Dean risked everything to get it back for him. The power struggle between good and evil raged on, with the new King of Hell, Crowley, ultimately emerging as their adversary. Shockingly, Crowley had made a secret deal with Sam and Dean’s closest friend, the angel Castiel, who is now a desperate freedom fighter on the losing side of a post-Apocalyptic civil war in Heaven; together, the uneasy allies sought to open a door to Purgatory, where a great untapped well of souls lie waiting to be used as the ultimate form of military power. Sam and Dean reeled from the betrayal by their friend — and raced to stop the angel and demon before they opened that dangerous, otherworldly door. Now, in season seven, the Winchesters will find themselves in an increasingly sinister, changing landscape, up against a new foe unlike anything they’ve ever fought. They’ll find their old tricks, weapons and hiding places all rendered useless. All they’ll have is each other. And the certainty that, like the last of the cowboy outlaws, whatever they face, they’re not going down without a fight. The series stars Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester, Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester and Misha Collins as Castiel. SUPERNATURAL is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers McG (“Charlie’s Angels,” “The O.C.”), Robert Singer (“Midnight Caller”), Sera Gamble and Phil Sgriccia.

MIDSEASON

“RE-MODELED”

Modeling industry veteran Paul Fisher is planning to bring together hundreds of small agencies around the world in a new venture called The Network. The Network will give Paul the leverage to change the industry from the inside out. He has two missions: to make sure agents in small towns no longer get screwed, and to empower models to take control of their careers and lead healthier lives. RE-MODELED is from Fly on the Wall Entertainment and Sony Pictures Television with executive producers Allison Grodner (“Big Brother,” “You’re Cut Off,” “She’s Got The Look,” “Plain Jane”), Rich Meehan (“Big Brother,” “You’re Cut Off,” “She’s Got The Look,” “Plain Jane”), Amy Palmer (“You’re Cut Off,” “Plain Jane”), Paul Fisher (“I Want To Be A Hilton”), Greg Seuss (“What’s Wrong with Virginia,” “Tug”) and Erik Stone (“Aisha Tyler Is Lit: Live at the Fillmore”).

“THE FRAME”

What happens when your whole life is reduced to one Frame? There’s only one rule: if you’re out of the Frame, you’re out of the game. Ten teams of two, chosen for their dynamic personalities and their existing deep-rooted relationships, are selected to compete in this wild social experiment. These teams will each live in one Frame – a stripped down version of their home living space – for up to 8 weeks, with the entire world watching their inter-personal soap operas play out atop a highly formatted game. Couples cannot physically see one another, but each “frame” is rigged with plasma screens & communication devices that allow for visual and verbal interaction. The teams will face outrageous challenges, punishments, head-to-head competitions, and eliminations, all while isolated from the outside world. With 24/7 web cams streaming content live, and a bi-weekly television show, audiences will vote for – and have control over – many elements of the show, from rewards to punishments to eliminations. The last couple standing will be America’s favorite pair, and walk away with a cash prize. THE FRAME is from Shed Media and Armoza International Media with executive producers Nick Emmerson (“Bethenny Ever After,” “Supernanny,” “Who Do You Think You Are,” “The Real Housewives of New York City”) and Jen O’Connell (“Bethenny Ever After,” “Supernanny,” “Who Do You Think You Are,” “The Real Housewives of New York City”).

90210 and Gossip Girl have terrible ratings!Hart of Dixie and Ringer should have been on Tuesdays and kept the two low rated teen soaps together on Monday!Glad to see Nikita return in fall and finally a fall schedule without OTH even though its back in the fall still weird to see it missing.And finally,will they ever end America’s Next Top Model I don’t watch it just seems like its had like 20 cycles.

Anonymous • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

americas next top model just needs to end

Michael • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Only good thing is 90210 and Ringer

ryan • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

the ringer, deserves to be at 8pm on tuesdays

fra • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Only SC will have benefits from it’s lead in… GG won’t help Hart of dixie for sure, like 90210
Nikita at 8.00?!?! Why they didn’t put it after SPN… with the lead in of SPN?
Mysteries..

Tyler • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Ringer has almost no competition for its target demographic at Tuesday at 9. Good move, CW.

Dina • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Ringer is as good as dead. Every that aired after 90210 on Tuesdays ended up getting cancelled. Should have paired it up with Nikita or Supernatural instead.

Edward • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Supernatural can have some gruesome, disturbing effects from time to time. I would rather it stay at 9:00 p.m. than have it watered down to fit into an 8:00 slot.

As it is, it’s not an 8:00 show.

Zeke • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Sorry DINA, but the old adage of “If they build it, they will come” applies to SMG’s RINGER. If it is anywhere as good as BUFFY, it will find its audience. If you remember when they launched BUFFY as a midseason show that they thought wouldn’t last, it launched on MONDAYS @ 9pm after 7th Heaven, where everything that they had aired before ALWAYS got canned (remember: Savannah, etc…)

elizabeth Ann • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

I think Gail O’Grady should star in H8R, considering she needs the work, and she has managed to lie, steal, home wreck, casino slutted her way thru LA with 6 ex husbands and everyone elses husband.
What a shame.

Jason • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

I love the lineup. Many more intelligent minds than us labored many days and weeks, examining the schedule from every aspect, competitively, financially, strategically. I’ll trust their judgment over a bunch of serial internet posters who live to second-guess. People who trash shows before they’ve seen the first frame of video. People who carry hilarious personal vendettas (snicker!) against…yes, a TV network. People who I seriously wonder: “How do they make it thru each day?”

Great job, CW. Keep the momentum moving forward under the new leadership team. This is only the beginning.

Schadenfreude • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

LOL @ Jason. Best post of 2011.

Elizabeth Ann • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Very well said Jason, Mark Pedowitz is one the best…

Anna • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

RIP Ringer.

Joseph • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Well, to be fair, when they launched The Vampire Diaries it was at 8 followed by the already established Supernatural. I know TVD already had a fan base and hype, but so did Melrose Place, which premiered to terrible numbers. I’m just disappointed in the 90210/Ringer pairing. Ringer and Nikita should be together, and banish Gossip Girl or 90210 to Fridays to die.

I just really hope Pedowitz makes the right call once Ostroff is gone and realizes that 90210 and Gossip Girl are becoming less and less relevant on a network that is finally starting to get a little traction and decent programming. They were once the highlight of The CW, because the network was in a downward spiral… now they’re pulling themselves out with programming like The Vampire Diaries, Nikita and veteran performers like Supernatural. The Secret Circle is probably going to be huge, while Ringer and Heart of Dixie are in the air. Fingers crossed for SMG though!

Sorry for the rant. haha.

Marc • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

A lot of this scheduling makes no sense: Why would you put the lower rated show (Nikita) before Supernatural? The show was on the bubble before, wouldn’t it make more sense to try and increase its ratings by using SPN as a strong lead-in? 90210 and Ringer is a terrible pairing. I agree with the person who said Heart Of Dixie should’ve been paired with Ringer, seems like the concepts fit better together and both could’ve been on the WB. Gossip Girl’s audience would be more likely to crossover to 90210 and vice-versa so why not put them on the same night? With their crap ratings, it couldn’t do them any harm… right?

Marc • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Yeah Jason, CW’s scheduling monkeys are so talented — that’s why they haven’t built an audience since the network’s conception and why it’s not even considered competitive ratings-wise. If being last place at every timeslot every night of the week is doing a great job, I think you’re living in bizarro world dude.

Chris • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Supernatural is the CW only hope.

SAM and Dean

Kay • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Poor SMG. We knew it was coming, but I don’t understand why they would pair Ringer with 90210.

Ginger • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Those reality shows will crash and burn. The CW should have taken another chance with Hellcats.

Alicia • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Nikita should be paired with The Ringer, not the low rated (should be canceled) 90210!

Julie • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

I’m sad that Nikita has moved to Fridays this early, but hopefully this can only be a good thing. It has boded well for SPN when it got moved, so I’m hopeful. I would LOVED a pairing of Ringer/Nikita. 90210 can’t beat Glee or NCIS at the 8pm time slot. Ringer would have a better chance there at 8, followed by Nikita at 9.

Terrence • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

@Jason: there is such a thing as too much laboring — particularly over a ten hour schedule.

that having been said, i am by no means a fan of the CW but “Heart of Dixie” and “Ringer” sound better than the network’s years revisiting Fox’s 1990s lineup.

Tommy • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Should I be concerned that ‘One Tree Hill’ isn’t even mentioned in the press release?

Melody • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

What happened to Hellcats!!!!!????

Lambsilencer • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

It was canceled, sorry.

chuck • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Question can Nikita survive on Friday nights?

Adam • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Anyone else find it truly bizarre that commenters are so wildly concerned about what a show is “paired with?” What, now we can’t be happy that a show is one of the few even *chosen* to make it to air, we now have to make an issue of what’s on before or after it? How idiotic is that? You people…(shakes head)…you’re just amazing.

Adam • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

Just counted…10 of the 25 posts above are all concerned with when a show airs or what it’s “paired” with. Exactly when did all of you internet trolls become network scheduling experts? I’m really fascinated by this immense pro knowledge you feel you have. Do you 2nd-guess every move your boss makes at work, too? Is that why you have so much time to critique network announcements?

Joseph • on May 19, 2011 6:06 am

This is what I feel The CW’s schedule should have been:

MONDAY:

Gossip Girl
Heart of Dixie

TUESDAY:

Nikita
Ringer

WEDNESDAY:

H8R
America’s Next Top Model

THURSDAY:

The Vampire Diaries
The Secret Circle

FRIDAY:

Supernatural
Awakening

They should have picked up Awakening as a fourth show this fall, pairing it with Supernatural on Fridays. The CW does SO WELL with supernatural/horror esque shows, so why not run with it?

Also, save One Tree Hill, The Frame and Re=Modeled for mid-season, and they should have renewed Hellcats for mid-season as well, just in case. I know they’re on a budget, but come on… it’s not a bad show and though the ratings aren’t great… they weren’t AWFUL.. even for The CW.